Equalizer Hitch

happytocamp · 08-12-2013, 05:38 PM

Having recently sold our pop-up, and looking to move to a travel trailer (Sunline.....hopefully!), I was looking at the Equalizer Hitch. Our current tow vehicle is an 05 GMC Yukon. (short wheelbase,5.3 Vortec) I've been "lurking" here for a while, soaking up all of the great info that is available on this site! With this tow vehicle and my" lack of a long driveway"- I am looking at the 2363. Should I get the 1,000/10,000 lb hitch (2363) or the 1,200/12,000 lb hitch (looking towards the future-larger TV-larger Sunline) I only ask because the price difference is negligible. Just not sure if the 12,000 would be too much for a 2363.

Thanks for all the great info and for the help!

Lou

Wannabes · 08-12-2013, 09:31 PM

Lou,

Welcome!

We have an '02 Sunline 2363 which we bought last August, our first trailer ever. A Husky WD hitch (1000/10,000) & Draw-Tite friction sway control came with it. Early on, we decided to replace it with a Reese WD w/ dual cam sway control. Like you, we were trying to decide which bars to get and we chose the Reese Straitline WD hitch w/ 800/10,000 trunnion bars. After towing with the Reese hitch, we realized how stiff the original hitch set-up (1000 lb. round bars) was for our trailer & TV combination. The Reese 800/10,000 bars work nicely b/c we pack the 2363 light and don't usually tow w/ the fresh water tank filled. From our experience, limited tho' it may be, I would think that the 1200/12,000 bars would be too stiff for the 2363 but then again, the Equalizer hitch may be different from the Reese. We've heard good things about Equalizer from people on this site.

BTW, we had a dealer install our Reese hitch but it was done incorrectly and we had to re-install the whole system ourselves. Fortunately, a Sunline member (JohnB) walked us through it and helped us to "fine-tune" it so that now it tows beautifully. While we were unhappy about the incorrect installation, as newbies we learned a lot from having to do the re-install.

Good luck on finding your Sunline soon!

Ray and Lynn from PA · 08-13-2013, 06:48 AM

Lou, we had a Sunline Solaris T-195SR and we used the equalizer hitch with the #1200 bars. Our campers dry weight was around #4850 lbs. but our tongue weight was #790 lbs. We got the #1200 lb. bars because the price was about the same as the #1000 lb. The way the equalizer hitch is made the bars are used for weight distribution and sway control. The #1200 lb. bars are about 1 1/4" square and the #1000 lb. bars are about 1" square. I would buy the heaver bars and if you ever get a bigger trailer you will be able to use the hitch on it too. In this case I think bigger is better. Good Luck

happytocamp · 08-13-2013, 01:36 PM

Thanks! I hope we can find one soon. Matthew and Lisa, just curious, what was the hitch height(top of coupler) on your 2365 when level? I also read some of your posts on your search for your Sunny- enjoyable to read and it looks like you found a beauty!

Ray & Lynn- that was my thinking about the larger bars as well. Thanks for your input.

Lou

happytocamp · 08-13-2013, 05:46 PM

Also, what size hitch ball do the 2000 and newer Sunline take?
Is it model specific? From what I've read, it looks like 2 5/16.

Thanks

Lou

joe8grouse · 08-13-2013, 06:59 PM

Hi Lou,

Welcome to the club. 2 5/16 is the standard size ball for a towable travel trailer. We owned a 2363 and found the layout perfect for the two of us and the dog. Now the grandkids want to come more often and we need more sleeping arrangements so we upgraded to the 2653. Go with the lager weight distribution set up. It make senses especially if you go bigger in the future. Good luck on your hunt.

Joe & Tina

bunjin · 08-13-2013, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe8grouse

Hi Lou,

Welcome to the club. 2 5/16 is the standard size ball for a towable travel trailer. We owned a 2363 and found the layout perfect for the two of us and the dog. Now the grandkids want to come more often and we need more sleeping arrangements so we upgraded to the 2653. Go with the lager weight distribution set up. It make senses especially if you go bigger in the future. Good luck on your hunt.

Joe & Tina

My 1983 T-1550 is a 2" ball. It is towable as well dragable behind my Tundra.

Wannabes · 08-13-2013, 07:25 PM

Lou,

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but these were the tongue level heights on our 2363 taken directly behind the coupler when the Reese hitch was re-installed: Tongue level unhitched: 18-1/16; Tongue hitched w/ WD & DC adjusted: 16-3/4".

We were interested in what Ray & Lynn and Joe & Tina both wrote about the Equalizer hitch w/ heavier bars. When we were looking at getting the Reese hitch and debating about the tow bars, it was brought to our attention that too heavy a tow bar can cancel out (or make less effective) the weight distribution b/c there is not enough flex there. Then again, that would depend on the TT & TV weight. Being newbies, we might have misunderstood.

Anyway, sounds like you're all ready to get a Sunline. We hope you like yours as much as we like ours... and you're right, we did get a nice one!

happytocamp · 08-13-2013, 07:51 PM

Thanks everyone- just trying to be prepared to tow one home if I should find one!

Lou

Gene · 08-13-2013, 07:59 PM

Lou,

When you say "Equalizer Hitch" do you mean the brand name or as a general term meaning weight distribution?

As Joe said the hitch ball on a 2363 is 2 5/16. The hitch ball height on my 2363 is 17" when the trailer is level and before hooking up (also, as stated in the brochure for the 2002 model). My tongue weight, measured on my Surline scale is 650#. I use 800# bars on my Reese Dual Cam and have read here about bars that are too stiff possibly causing problems.

happytocamp · 08-13-2013, 08:27 PM

Gene, I am referring to the name brand "Equalizer" hitch. On the Equalizer site, they have a shank size calculator(ok- that sounds weird!)that tells you which shank you would need. I'm just playing around with the numbers to see if the shank that is included(universal?) would work. Is the 17 inch figure measured from the ground to the top of the socket where the hitch ball fits into the coupler?Here is a link to the Equalizer site.

Shank Sizes

Gene · 08-13-2013, 09:26 PM

Yes, the measure is to the inside of the top of the socket which would be the top of the ball on the hitch. I just rechecked the brochure and the measure is 17 1/2 inches. That can vary a bit with the loading of the trailer. I think my actual height, loaded, was closer to 17 inches.

markbrit · 08-14-2013, 06:25 AM

I agree with "Ray & Lynn from PA". I did the same thing bought the 1200 weight bars for the same reasoning.

My trailer weighs about 4,600 lbs and has a tongue weight of 960 lbs. I bought it here. Also bought the 2 5/16 Equal-i-zer Ball 12K .

12K Equalizer Adj Hitch - RVWholesalers.com RV Parts and Accessories